Colonel Bailey's Dungeon

Colonel Bailey's Dungeon is a historic underground prison in Srirangapatna, Mandya District, Karnataka, located near the Srirangapatna Fort. Built during the rule of Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century, it is known for detaining British officers captured after the Battle of Pollilur in 1780, including Colonel William Baillie. The whitewashed vaulted structure with stone slabs and iron rings is a protected monument and a key heritage attraction in the island town.

Visitors can expect a low, vaulted underground dungeon built of stone and mortar with whitewashed walls, arched openings and heavy stone slabs. The interior consists of narrow chambers with iron rings and plaques describing its history. Cannons are displayed outside. The site is compact, located close to Srirangapatna Fort walls, and is explored on foot with steps leading down into the chambers. Information boards explain its association with Tipu Sultan and British prisoners.

The dungeon was constructed under Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore, in the late 18th century. It gained prominence after the Battle of Pollilur (1780) during the Second Anglo-Mysore War, when British East India Company officers including Colonel William Baillie were captured and confined here. Baillie died in captivity in 1782. The structure illustrates Tipu Sultan's military administration and the Anglo-Mysore conflicts and is part of the Srirangapatna fort complex.

The dungeon is a significant heritage landmark of Srirangapatna, representing the island town's role as Tipu Sultan's capital and its layered military history. It is visited as part of the heritage circuit that includes the fort, palaces and temples, reflecting the town's historical importance in Karnataka.